Title 31, Title 31 and Other Vehicles

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with, and when required under this chapter shall be equipped with, the following signal lamps or devices: (1) A stop lamp on the rear which shall emit a red or yellow light and which shall be actuated by applying the service (foot) brake and whic…

A stop lamp shall be plainly visible and understandable from a distance of one hundred feet (100′) to the rear both during normal sunlight and at nighttime, and a signal lamp or lamps indicating intention to turn shall be visible and understandable during daytime and nighttime fr…

All mechanical signal devices shall be self-illuminated when in use at the times mentioned in § 31-24-1. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two (2) spot lamps and every lighted spot lamp shall be aimed and used upon approaching another vehicle so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam will be directed to the left of the prolongation of the extreme l…

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two (2) road lamps or fog lamps which shall be rigidly affixed to the motor vehicle below the level of the head lamps, and shall be so aimed and used that no part of the high-intensity portion of the light beam shall rise more …

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two (2) side cowl or fender lamps which shall emit an amber or white light without glare. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.

Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than one running board courtesy lamp on each side of it which shall emit a white or amber light without glare. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.

Whenever a requirement is declared in this chapter as to the distance from which certain lamps and devices shall render objects visible or within which the lamps or devices shall be visible, the provisions shall apply during the times stated in § 31-24-1 in respect to a vehicle w…

Any motor vehicle may be equipped without not more than two (2) back-up lamps either separately or in combination with other lamps, but no back-up lamp shall be lighted when the motor vehicle is in forward motion. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31…

Every farm tractor equipped with an electric lighting system shall at all times mentioned in § 31-24-1 display a red tail lamp and either multiple beam or single beam head lamp equipment meeting the requirements of §§ 31-24-7 — 31-24-9, 31-24-22, and 31-24-24. Violations of this …

Except as provided in this chapter, the head lamps, or the auxiliary driving lamps, or combinations of them, on motor vehicles other than a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle, shall be arranged so that selection may be made between distributions of light projected to different el…

Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway or on its shoulder during the times specified in § 31-24-1, the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance …

Head lamps arranged to provide a single distribution of light shall be permitted on motor vehicles manufactured and sold prior to November 1, 1951, in lieu of multiple beam road lighting equipment specified in this chapter if the single distribution of light complies with the fol…

The head or head lamps upon every motor-driven cycle may be of the single beam or multiple beam type but in either event shall comply with the requirements and limitations as follows: (1) Every head lamp or head lamps on a motor-driven cycle shall be of sufficient intensity to re…

Any motor vehicle may be operated under the conditions specified in § 31-24-1 when equipped with two (2) lighted lamps upon the front of it capable of revealing persons and objects seventy-five feet (75′) ahead in lieu of lamps required in §§ 31-24-22 or 31-24-24; provided, that …

At all times specified in § 31-24-1, at least two (2) lighted lamps shall be displayed one on each side at the front of every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, except when the vehicle is parked subject to the regulations governing lights on parked vehic…

Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with head lamps as required by this chapter is also equipped with any auxiliary lamps or a spot lamp or any other lamp on the front of it projecting a beam of an intensity greater than three hundred (300) candle power, not more than a total of fo…

Any lighted lamp or illuminating device upon a motor vehicle other than head lamps, spot lamps, auxiliary lamps, or flashing front direction signals which projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than three hundred (300) candle power, shall be directed so that no part of …

Whenever a requirement is declared in this chapter as to the mounted height of lamps or devices, it shall mean from the center of the lamp or device to the level ground upon which the vehicle stands when the vehicle is without a load.

No person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any highway with any lamp or device on it displaying a red light visible from directly in front of the center of it. This section shall not apply to any vehicle upon which a red light visible from the front is expressly …

(a) Flashing lights are prohibited, except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus, snow-removal equipment, or on any vehicle as a means for indicating a right or left turn. However, the requirements of § 31-24-33 shall be deemed to be satisfied if the vehicle is equipped …

Whenever a vehicle is lawfully parked upon a street or highway during the hours between one-half (½) hour after sunset and one-half (½) hour before sunrise, and in the event there is sufficient light to reveal any person or object within a distance of five hundred feet (500′) upo…

(a) Whenever a vehicle is parked or stopped upon a roadway or shoulder adjacent to it, whether attended or unattended, during the hours between one-half (½) hour after sunset and one-half (½) hour before sunrise, and there is not sufficient light to reveal any person or object wi…

Any lighted head lamps upon a parked vehicle shall be depressed or dimmed. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.

All vehicles, including animal-drawn vehicles and including those referred to in § 31-23-3 not specifically required by this chapter to be equipped with lamps, shall at the times specified in § 31-24-1 be equipped with at least one lighted lamp or lantern exhibiting a white light…

Those sections of this chapter which follow immediately, including §§ 31-24-37 — 31-24-44, relating to clearance and marker lamps, reflectors, and stop lights, shall apply as stated in those sections to vehicles of the type enumerated in those sections, namely passenger buses, tr…

In addition to other equipment required in chapters 1 — 27 of this title, the following vehicles shall be equipped as follows under the conditions stated in § 31-24-36. (1) On every bus or truck, whatever its size, there shall be the following: (i) On the rear, two (2) reflectors…

(a) Front clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the front or on the side near the front of a vehicle shall display or reflect an amber color. (b) Rear clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear or on the sides near the rea…

(a) Reflectors. When required by § 31-24-37, reflectors shall be mounted at a height not less than twenty-four inches (24") and not higher than sixty inches (60") above the ground on which the vehicle stands. If the highest part of the permanent structure of the vehicle is less t…

Every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with at least two (2) head lamps with at least one on each side of the front of the motor vehicle, and the head lamps shall comply with the requirements and limitations of this chapter. Violations…

Clearance lamps shall be mounted on the permanent structure of the vehicle in such a manner as to indicate its extreme width and as near the top of the vehicle as practicable. Clearance lamps and side marker lamps may be mounted in combination, provided illumination is given as r…

Every reflector upon any vehicle referred to in § 31-24-37 shall be of a size, have characteristics, and be maintained so as to be readily visible at nighttime from all distances from fifty feet (50′) to five hundred feet (500′) from the vehicle when directly in front of lawful u…

Front and rear clearance lamps shall be capable of being seen and distinguished under normal atmospheric conditions at the times lights are required at a distance of five hundred feet (500′) from the front and rear, respectively, of the vehicle. Violations of this section are sub…

Side marker lamps shall be capable of being seen and distinguished under normal atmospheric conditions at the times lights are required at a distance of five hundred feet (500′) from the side of the vehicle on which they are mounted. Violations of this section are subject to fine…

Whenever motor and other vehicles are operated in combination during the time that lights are required, any lamp (except tail lamps) need not be lighted which, by reason of its location on a vehicle of the combination, would be obscured by another vehicle of the combination. This…

Whenever the load upon any vehicle extends to the rear or front four feet (4′) or more beyond the bed or body of the vehicle, there shall be displayed at the extreme rear end or front of the load, at the time specified in § 31-24-1, a red light or lantern plainly visible from a d…

(a) The state traffic commission shall adopt standards and specifications applicable to head lamps, clearance lamps, identification, and other lamps on snow removal equipment when operated on the highways of this state in lieu of the lamps otherwise required on motor vehicles by …

(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is authorized to approve or disapprove lighting devices and to issue and enforce regulations establishing standards and specifications for the approval of such lighting devices, their installation, and aiming. The regulation…

(a) When the administrator of the division of motor vehicles has reason to believe that an approved device as being sold commercially does not comply with the requirements of this chapter, he or she may, after giving thirty (30) days’ previous notice to the person holding the cer…

No person shall have for sale, sell, or offer for sale for use upon or as a part of the equipment of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer or use upon any such vehicle any head lamp, auxiliary or fog lamp, rear lamp, signal lamp, or reflector which reflector is required by th…

Every motor cycle and every motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with at least one and not more than two (2) head lamps which shall comply with the requirements and limitations of this chapter. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.

No person shall have for sale, sell, or offer for sale for use upon or as a part of the equipment of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer any lamp or device mentioned in § 31-24-49 which has been approved by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles unless the lamp…

No person shall use upon any motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer any lamps mentioned in § 31-24-49 unless the lamps are mounted and adjusted as to focus and aim in accordance with instructions of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles. Violations of this section …

(a) All new automobiles and automobiles for hire sold in Rhode Island beginning with the 1969 models shall be provided with a hazard switch so as to produce a constant flashing light when the switch is activated. The switch shall be activated by the operator whenever any vehicle …

No person engaged as an itinerant vendor of food items from a motor vehicle operated, or caused to be operated by him or her, upon the public streets or highways of the state of Rhode Island, shall operate the motor vehicle or cause the motor vehicle to be operated for the purpos…

All new school buses, as defined in § 31-1-3, shall at all times be equipped with a rear-viewing, rear-mounted white flashing strobe light, meeting the following requirements: (1) A white flashing strobe light will be installed on the roof of a school bus; at a point not to excee…